Identification tag



July 23, 1940. w c NT I 2,209,162

IDENTIFICATION TAG Filed Jan. 5, 1939 FIG."| F1672 WILLIAM C. HUNTINVENTOR Mk) (5. 'amm....&

ATTORNEY Patented July 23, 1940 greater PATENT OFFICE IDENTIFICATION TAGWilliam 0. Hunt, Wilmington, DeL, assignor to Hercules Powder Company,Wilmington, Dei, a corporation of Delaware Application January 5, 1939,Serial No. 249,387

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved identification device and moreparticularly to an identification. tag suitable for use in combinationwith an electric firing device.

There are various types and designs of identification tags known to theart, the large majority of which have a hole located near one end of thetag through which a strand is threaded to eifect attachment of the tagto the article which is to be identified. There are also tags whichcontain a slit extending from the hole to the outside edge of the tagthus allowing the tag to'be placed on a strand without threading the endof the strand through the hole. Further it is known that to includestring or a metal clip in combination with the tag provides an effectivemeans of attaching the tag to a given article. Each of the various typesof tags mentioned above may be used to identify practically any article,but the tags having a hole located at one end or having a hole with aslit extending to the outside edge of the tag are the ones usuallyemployed in labeling electric firing devices.

"It is well known that electric firing devices include an explosivecontainer from which extend a pair of insulated leg wires. Further ithas been the custom in the art to identify the period of all "delayfiring devices by attaching a tag to one of the insulated leg wires. Theart has experienced difficulties in obtaining tags that are economical,that are easy to attach to the leg wire, that may be positively placedat a definite point on the leg wire, that have sufficient strength towithstand rough usage, and that will after being attached to the legwire lie fiatly along the bundle of leg wires.

The object of this invention is to produce a tag that is easily attachedto one leg wire of the firing device. A further object of this inventionis to produce a tag that will not be torn from the leg wire byaccidental stress. A still further object of this invention is toprovide a tag that will remain positioned on the leg wire at the pointof application. Further objects will appear hereinafter.

The identification tag in accordance with this invention includes ameans of easily applying the tag to a wire Without the necessity ofthreading the Wire through a hole. Thus the tag contains a central slotthrough which a loop or bight of one leg wire is passed, after which atab on the side of the tag is folded through the bight and the bightpulled tight against the tab. This method positions the tag on the wirefirmly and positively. Further the tag may be placed at any point on awire without reference to the ends. 7

Having now indicated in a general way the nature and purpose of thisinvention, there follows a more detailed description of a preferredembodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawing inwhich:

Figure 1 is a plan View of the tag; Figure 2 is a side view of the tagshown in Figure l; and Figure 3 shows the tag of Figure 1 attached to aleg wire of a firing device.

The tag will be described by reference to Figure 3 which shows it incombination with a firing device.

and 3 wherein like reference numbers refer to the same parts of thedevice.

The tag I attached to a leg wire 2 of firing device contains a slot 4which is of sufficient length and breadth to allow a bight 5 of leg wire2 to be easily passed through. The tab section 6 is folded across theface of the tag I and inserted under the bight 5 after which the bight 5is pulled fiat against the tab section 6 as shown in the drawing. Itwill be noted that tab 6 is flared, to a degree that provides a width 1at least equal to the length of the slot 4, on both sides of a neckportionil, which neck portion 8 coincides with the said slot 4 when thetab 6 is folded back across the face of the tag I. The flared design ofthe tab 6 prevents the removal of the tab 6 if the tab 6 is accidentallytorn along the line of the fold 9.

From the design of the tab 6 and slot 4 it is apparent that the bight 5so clamps the tag I to the leg wire 2 that there is no possibility ofthe tag I moving along the wire 2 and further that since the leg wire 2is acting against the fiat surface of the tab 6 there is no chance ofthe tag I being torn from the assembly.

The tag in accordance with this invention presents many advantages overthe tags that are now used by the art for labeling electric delay firingdevices. Thus the tag of this invention is made from a single thicknessof material which is advantageous as the manufacture of the device maybe economically carried out on a punch press with one operation. Furthersuch a tag needs no reinforcement as the design in accordance with thisinvention causes all stresses to be applied against a flat surfaceinstead of against one edge of the tag material. Since the tag ismanufactured on a punch press from single thickness material, the designmay be altered easily and with a minimum of expense as the only re- Thedetails of construction of the tag will be readily apparent by referenceto Figures 1, 2,

. close to the end of a leg wire without danger of quirement is the useof a new punch, whereas in tags that are necessarily reinforced changein design often causes the alteration of the design of the reinforcingmember with the consequent need of multiple alterations whichareexpensive.

A further advantage of the tag of this invention is the ease with whichit is applied at any point of a strand. The design allows the tag to bequickly and easily attached to a leg wire of a firing device. Furtherthis tag may be attached after the leg wires have been bundled andshunted as all that is necessary to effect attachment is to pass a bightof wire through the central slot and fold the tab of the tag under thebight. The application of the tag positions it securely at any desirablepoint, and due to the design, the tag cannot be moved without directedeffort. This tag, therefore, may be placed very the tag slipping ofi theend of the wire. This possibility of placing the tag close to the end ofthe leg wire is advantageous as the tag is at a ready reference point!The tag so placed is available for reference even after the firingdevice has been loaded into abore hole.

The design of the tag also causes the tag to lie flat against the wireto which it is attached which is an advantage as this position does notallow the tag .to be accidentally torn from the wire. The tag of thisinvention further is extremely hard to accidentallytear from the legwire since the leg wire stress is exerted against the flat surface ofthe tab whereas the tags of the prior art are designed so that thestress of the leg wire is applied against an edge of the tag, it istherefore obvious that the tag of this invention will be much moredifficult to. remove than those of the prior art.

The tag of this invention may be manufactured from any sheet material ofsuitable strength such as, for example, paper, aluminum, copper, etc.,but the preferable material in accordance with this invention is ropepaper of about .015 inch thickness. Paper of this type and thicknessgives a product which is easily applied and is of sufficient strength towithstand the abuse encountered in explosive operations.

While the use of the described tags has been hereinbefore directed tothe identification of a delay firing device such a tag may be used inconjunction with any article which provides a strand to which the tagmay be attached. Thus, it is to be understood that these tags may bealtered in design to adapt their attachment to strands such as thread,string, wire, or heavy cord, and it will be possible therefore to usethose tags to identify practically any article. Further, it is to. beunderstood that the use of these tags with all electric firing devicessuch as delay electric blasting caps, delay electric squibs, delayelectric igniters, and electric blasting caps is contemplated.

It will be understood that the details and examples given hereinbeforeare illustrative only, and in no way limiting on my invention as broadlydescribed hereinbefore and in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent isz' 1. Anidentification tag designed to be attached to a strand, said tagcomprising a flat sheet having a slot designed to receive a bight of thesaid strand and a tab located on one side and being an integral part ofsaid tag; which tab is flared to a degree that provides a width at leastequal to the length of the said slot on both sides of a neck portionthat will coincide with the said slot when the said tab is folded alongits line of attachment to the main body of the said tag back across theface of the tag; the said tab when folded being adapted to be insertedunder the said bight of strand inserted through the said slot, thuspositively joining the said identification tag to the said strand.

2. In combination with a strand an identifica- I tion tag attachedthereto, the said identification tag comprising a flat sheet having aslot designed to receive a bight of the said strand and a tab located onone side and being an integral part of said tag; which tab is flared toa degree that provides a width at least equal to the length of thesaid'slot on both sides of a neck portion that will coincide with thesaid slot When the said tab is folded along its line of attachment tothe main body of the said tag back across the face of the tag; the saidtab when folded being inserted under the said bight inserted through thesaid slot, thus positively joining the said identification tag to thesaid strand.

WILLIAM C. HUNT.

